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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Risesohigh33 on 2025-10-22 17:19:42+00:00.
I swear to you, I feel like I can hear my blood pumping through my body. That’s how quiet it is in this safe room. I do not like the feeling of being helpless and afraid. Again.
Quite honestly, I’m sick of it. But right now, there is simply nothing I can do…but wait.
James and Klara, on the other hand, haven’t stopped moving since we locked the door behind us. They are making hand motions to each other furiously. Klara is very, very animated as she does so. James just rolls his eyes. I do not know what this is, but they seem to be communicating. I am hoping they brief me on their conversation at some point. Matteo said the room is soundproof, but neither James nor Klara is going to test that.
So, I was given a piece to put into my ear as the door shut. We all have them, but since Terrans are quite a bit larger than I am, it doesn’t fit. I compensate by holding it to my ear, and I glance down at our tablet on the floor.
Klara placed a tiny camera onto the wall outside the room, which gives us a view and the ability to listen in on Matteo’s conversation as we wait. The camera is indistinguishable from the wall itself outside the room. Believe me. I checked.
I just watch Matteo wait as James and Klara use their hands to speak to each other. Our Terran host is cleaning his knives again, but even I can notice that he seems much more tense compared to when we arrived. He knows the stakes.
If we’re found, he’s dead too.
It isn’t long before Matteo’s man opens the door and strides into the room. Behind him walks a Terran that looks to be about as far from a killer as I can imagine. This one is about Klara’s height, but he is fitted with tight clothing so I can tell he is not that wide. He’s rather thin, actually. Hands clasped behind his back, he flashes a warm smile and bright, white teeth at Matteo, who looks up briefly from his knives. Another thing he didn’t do with James.
Then his charade kicks in, and Matteo smiles softly back at the new Terran. “I was wondering when you’d be back,” Matteo says smoothly. He points a knife at the Terran. “It is good to see you, Kieren. I assume my latest work was satisfactory.”
Kieran, the Terran, just smiles wider as he stops in front of Matteo’s table. Matteo’s man has left the room, shutting the door behind him. “It was pristine, my friend. Pris-tine.” Kieran clicks his tongue and runs it over his front teeth. His skin is pale, but there is not a mark on it. He pulls up a finger and wags it at Matteo. “And I still think you could do better. May I sit?”
Matteo gestures to the seat. “As always, you have a seat at my table,” Matteo responds. Kieran sits and kicks his feet up on the table. Matteo does not react, but he leans back. Oh, he doesn’t like that, does he? When I look at James, my friend is already shaking his head to confirm.
I was right. I am learning.
There is silence, and it’s only broken when Matteo chuckles. He folds his hands across his abdomen. “Ever the showman, eh?” Matteo asks. He rolls his eyes. “Must you make me ask?”
Kieran grins. “I would prefer it, yes,” he purrs.
“Well, in that case, dear Soulless, how could my work be better?” Matteo asks. It’s odd, but I can tell he’s genuinely wondering. I do not know much about this Matteo, but I can tell he’s filled with immense pride for his profession. His work means something to him.
Doubly so for his clients being satisfied.
Kieran makes me jump a little when he swings his legs down from the table, slaps it and points a finger at Matteo. “It was a ruse! I’m joking!” Matteo’s shoulders relax a little. “Your work for my previous assignment, truly, might have been the best thing you’ve ever done.” Kieran massages his jaw. “I will admit, it stung quite a bit to remove, but that’s when you know it’s the good stuff.”
Matteo cocks his head. “You never told me the job,” he says.
“And I still won’t,” Kieran says, a bit of bite to his voice. I notice that too. He picks at something on his leg and tosses it away. “That being said, it was successful. A rather…delicate…situation in which a certain prominent figure needed to be persuaded to see our point of view.”
Matteo raises an eyebrow. “And…did they?”
Kieran frowns. “No, they did not. So, they were silenced.” He smiles, but this time, it is fake. “Let us say that I hope in their final moments, they found some comfort knowing that the last face they saw was their butler and dear friend’s.”
“Ah,” Matteo says, nodding. “I wondered where that sample came from.”
“And now you know.”
In the silence that follows, I look to James again. He’s deep in thought, but there is a certain bit of positivity that passes his face. He looks up at me and mouths the word Earth.
It takes a moment, but I come to the conclusion. I glance back at James and nod that I understand. Kieran’s last mission was on Earth. And he assumed a new identity to do it, using Matteo’s work. That is good news for us. It means that our artificer can get us what we need.
Finally, Kieran breaks the silence. “How long have we known each other, Matteo?” he asks.
“Many years, Kieran. Many years. Why do you ask?”
“And how did we first meet?” Kieran’s eyes are a light and easy green, but his face is hard. It is remarkable how much I’m learning about Terrans after spending so much time around them. When I first met James, there was simply no way for me to understand these things. I think I would be happier if I didn’t.
But it is information. No more, no less. And information is always useful, even if it’s not at this particular moment. Someday, perhaps it will be. Matteo holds Kieran’s stare, unblinking, and drifts into a memory. “I believe your colleague brought you here the first time to introduce us,” Matteo recalls. “I believe I did not like your smile upon first meeting.”
“And why was that?” Kieran asks as if that’s exactly what he was hoping Matteo would say.
“Because I found it fake.”
“A smile is disarming, Matteo. I quite like it when my targets are disarmed.”
Matteo stiffens. He takes the chance to lean forward. “You have smiled quite a bit at me in only a few moments, Kieran. Should I take that to mean–”
“That depends,” Kieran says. His eyes narrow and the two men stare at each other. I find blood pumping to my ears. My heartrate rises. I brace myself. “Are you one of my targets?”
Matteo just blinks. “I believe that is your information to share, not mine,” he says slowly.
The staring contest lasts for what feels like an eternity. Then Kieran breaks out into a big smile. He offers a loud laugh. “Fuck me! You’re good, you know that?” he says through laughter. “Where did you learn such diplomacy?”
Matteo’s body moves up and down as he laughs along. “I hardly call that diplomacy,” Matteo says, chuckling. He brushes his face.
“And what would you call it?”
“Conversation.”
“You’re good at it,” Kieran says, blinking furiously and smiling. Then his face goes blank. He switches back and forth so quickly. “But there is a point to this meeting, my friend. And I am not here for more work or prosthetics.” He opens a hand to Matteo. “I come for conversation.”
“Wonderful!” Matteo exclaims. He claps his hands and rises. “Then a drink, yes?”
“Only if it’s whiskey!” Kieran says.
“I always keep some around. You’re not the only Scot who I am familiar with.” Matteo is at a side table, moving glasses and bottles around. He opens one and pours out its contents into a glass. The drink that follows is yellowish or…a mix of yellow and brown? Something like that. Matteo pours a glass for himself and returns to the table, pushing the glass over to Kieran.
“It is a matter of Terran security. I know you will never return to Earth, and I respect that. But surely, you still have some love in your heart for our shared people.”
“Always. How can I help?”
Kieran leans forward. “When I first came to you, it was accompanying two of my fellow Soulless. Surely you remember Ignacio and Kathryn, yes?”
Matteo nods along. “I do. Though that Ignacio always insisted on being called ‘James’ for whatever fucking reason.” Kieran waves a hand at that. “Always resisting Dante’s teachings.” Kieran frowns. “Can’t deny the man’s efficiency, though. A demon that one.” He looks up. “Ever see a video of him in a hallway?”
“I have not had the pleasure.”
Kieran narrows his eyes. “A pleasure to watch, it is not.” Kieran offers an intentional shiver. “Chilling stuff, when the black takes over his eyes. The Cazador was not a name so easily given.” Kieran takes a sip and lets out a satisfied sigh as the glass hits the table again. “He earned it.”
“I have heard stories.”
“Many of them are true. The Flash War? True. The tunnels on Titan? Also true. Alpha Centauri, the battle over Mater Di, the Storming of the Ice Throne? Very true.” Kieran perks up. "All true, in fact. I was there for that last one. All Soulless were.
Matteo takes a swig, smacking his lips as he finishes. “I knew only fire in my time of service,” he says quietly. “Not ice.”
“And we thank you for that service.” Kieran is running a finger along the edge of his glass b…
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